Hasta La Gadget!

While scanning through Panasonic’s booth at CEATEC 2012, we couldn’t help but notice a prototype of its world’s slimmest 100-lumen laser projector module (or OIU aka optical imaging unit, as the company prefers), which can beam out an 800 x 480 picture. It’s not clear when exactly we’ll see this 75mm-thick device getting into consumers’ hands, but there’s certainly room for improvement for the image quality. Likewise, the scan-type OIU (resolution at about 400 x 300) next to the slim projector is far from ready for mass consumption, as the company is hoping to actually shrink it down and integrate it into mobile phones. That said, the fact that this technology doesn’t require focusing makes it worth the wait — the light doesn’t go through an LCD filter like ordinary projectors do, and instead, it’s a single laser beam scanning out the picture, hence the name.

Also shown along side were the optical bay drive pico projector that’s already being offered by Fujitsu, as well as the PJ-SJ25U 854 × 480 DLP pico projector which was released in August this year. While the latter’s image quality was rather impressive even under the strong ambient lighting, we struggle to appreciate the ¥56,800 or $730 price tag. Anyhow, pricing is just a matter time, as always.

Filed under: Displays

Panasonic’s 75mm-thick, 100-lumen laser projector module claims world’s thinnest title originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 02:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alongside its Super Hi-Vision TV demonstrations, Japan’s national broadcaster had some 3D goggles also taking advantage of that 8K resolution. With 16 times the pixels of typical 1080p content, these prototype binoculars provide the same multiple of zoom from an 8K feed — that is 16x zoom without losing any of original data. We got to grips with a the master model here at CEATEC, and were able to pan up and down, as well as manipulate a lever to close in on views of both Mount Fuji and Tokyo’s very recent Skytree tower. NHK mentions that it could see the devices being used to show off other sightseeing spots in the future, but we don’t expect home installations any time soon.

Filed under: Cameras, Displays, HD

NHK demonstrates 8K 3D digital binoculars: 16x ‘lossless’ zoom at 1080p (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 08:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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According to a new report from research firm IHS, Apple’s iPhone 5 display lags behind the Samsung Galaxy S III’s on the important measure of color gamut, which creates a more vibrant, crisp image with better overall color saturation, but the difference in terms of how users perceive the margin could actually be negligible, and is unlikely to alter buying decisions.

In fact, IHS says that the iPhone 5′s screen may actually look better (more accurate and realistic) compared to the SGSIII, owing to “better calibration, higher brightness and superior power efficiency.” Samsung’s smartphone, by contrast, could appear “oversaturated and unrealistic,” Vinita Jakhanwal, director for Small & Medium Displays at IHS, noted in a press release.

Apple’s display also has advantages in terms of overall device thickness thanks to the use of in-cell touch panel technology, which incorporates the LCD and touch sensors into one, single layer. But the SGSIII actually beats the latest iPhone in terms of display thickness, and IHS says the iPhone 5 is slimmer overall due to other factors like battery thickness.

The pixel density on Samsung’s screen is also smaller, with 306ppi compared to 326ppi on the iPhone 5. But Samsung’s display provides true HD resolution at 720 x 1280, compared to 640 x 1136 for the iPhone 5. Apple has also faced criticism from some for using LCD instead of OLED technology in its smartphone, but Jakhanwal notes in the IHS report that OLED presents its own downsides, including concerns about how organic materials used in their construction ages, and what that will do to OLED lifetime and power efficiency in the longer term.

In the end, consumers care about performance in-hand, and both of these devices do well on that scale. Still, it’s interesting to take a closer look at the design decisions these two smartphone titans make, and what effects those choices have on overall display performance in their mobile devices.

Sharp unveiled at IFA 2012 a new series of high-resolution and low power display technology named IGZO, and today at CEATEC, Sharp went one step further by introducing two new 32” IGZO screens with one featuring a touchscreen and another more conventional one designed home entertainment.
For those who where under a rock the past few month, Sharp IGZO technology employed advanced IGZO oxide semiconductors enables Sharp to produce LCDs with smaller thin-film transistors and increased pixel …

Only a couple of months have passed since ViewSonic announced its new pair of wallet-friendly VA12 monitors as well as that larger, energy-efficient 27-inch VX2703mh-LED. Fast forward to today, and the company’s back with a trio of fresh VX70Smh-LED panels, including a lavish 27-incher in the VX2770Smh-LED, plus a couple of 22- and 23-inch monitors for those who prefer something a bit more conservative — all of which are equipped with IPS technology, a 1920 x 1080 screen resolution (30,000,000:1 MEGA Dynamic Contrast Ratio) and SRS Premium Sound. ViewSonic has said both the 23- and 27-inch VX70Smh-LEDs will be available “early October” for $189 and $319, respectively, while the smaller 22-inch VX2270Smh-LED is expected to hit shelves around December with a $159 price tag.

Continue reading ViewSonic’s new VX70Smh-LED IPS monitors arriving this month, pricing starts at $159

Filed under: Displays, Misc

ViewSonic’s new VX70Smh-LED IPS monitors arriving this month, pricing starts at $159 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 00:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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